Sewing machine

ABSTRACT

A sewing machine has a frame formed of a base, a column, a lower free arm having an upper working surface, an upper arm and a head. A material supporting means in the shape of a retractable shelf is connected to the base by a set of articulated parts, this shelf being displaceable in a vertical direction between an operative level in which it fits around the lower free arm at the working surface thereof, and a retracted level below the lower free arm to allow access thereto. Flaps are hinged to this shelf and can be folded against the frame to form a case therewith or can be folded down to allow access to the machine for operation thereof.

United States Patent Baruffa et al.

[54] SEWING MACHINE [72] Inventors: Olindo Baruffa; Francis Plomb, both of Aire-Geneva, Switzerland [73] Assignee: Mefina S.A., Fribourg, Switzerland [22] Filed: April 29, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 32,956

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 9, 1969 Switzerland ..71 12/69 [52] US. Cl ..ll2/258 [51] Int. Cl. ..D05b 75/00 [58] Field of Search ..112/258, 260, 217.1, 63; 312/21, 30, 29

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,438,687 4/1969 Wikey ..312/21 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,914,519 10/1969 Germany ..ll2/258 51 Aug. 15, 1972 9/1954 Italy .13 1 2/21 Primary Examiner.lordan F ranlclin Assistant Examiner-George H. Krizmanich AttorneyEmory L. Groff and Emory L. Groff, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A sewing machine has a frame formed of a base, a

column, a lower free arm having an upper working surface, an upper arm and a head. A material supporting means in the shape of a retractable shelf is connected to the base by a set of articulated parts, this shelf being displaceable in a vertical direction between an operative level in which it fits around the lower free arm at the working surface thereof, and a retracted level below the lower free arm to allow access thereto. Flaps are hinged to this shelf and can be folded against the frame to form a case therewith or can be folded down to allow access to the machine for operation thereof.

11 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUG 15 m2 SHEEI 2 OF 6 INVENTORS Do BflEl/FFA F E/l/Vc/S 7 .40 B BY 3 i g ATTORNEY P'ATENTEDAus 15 I972 3.683.833

sum 3 or 6 INVENTORS OL/NDO BAIQUFFH Flam/m5 PLa/MB .ATTOR NF Y P'ATE'N'TED Am; 1 5 m2 INVENTORS 0L IND ATTORNEY PATENTEUAUG 15 I972 SHEET 5 BF 6 0L IN O BAIPUFFA Fmwc/s PLomB ATTORNEY SEWING MACHINE when folded up they form a case in which the machine can be stored or transported and when folded down the machine is in an open position for the operation thereof.

It is an object of the invention to provide an im-' proved sewing machine of the above-mentioned type.

According to the invention, there is therefore proposed a sewing machine comprising a frame formed of a base, a column, a lower free arm having an upper working surface, an upper arm and a head. Flaps are hinged at least indirectly to said frame and are able to be applied against said frame to form a case therewith and to be folded down to allow access to said machine for operation thereof. A retractable shelf is connected to said base by a set of articulated parts, said shelf being able to be displaced between two levels, an operative level in which it fits around said lower free arm at the upper working surface thereof, and a retracted level below said lower free arm to allow access thereto.

The flaps are preferably hinged to the shelf and the shelf is preferably displaceable in a direction normal to said working surface and without angular displacement in relation to said working surface. I

The accompanying drawings show, schematically and by way of example, two embodiments of the inventlon.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sewing machine'in the operative position and provided with an enlarged work shelf around the free arm.

FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged end view from left to right of FIG. 1 with the end flap upright, and a portion of the side panel cut away.

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged end view similar to FIG. 2 with the end panel cut away, and part of the base also cut away.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sewing machine in packed position for transport or for storage.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial side view of right hand bottom corner of FIG. 4 with portions thereof cut away.

.FIG. 6 is a partial, enlarged end view from right to left of FIG. 4 with portions thereof cut away, the side panels in raised position and the side flaps folded down.

FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged end view similar to FIG. 6

Referring to the drawings, the sewing machines shown both comprise a frame 1 fonned of a base 2, a column 3, a lower free arm 4, an upper arm 5 and a head 6. These sewing machines additionally comprise a shelf 7 of a shape fittable around the free arm 4. This shelf is mounted in a manner to be displaceable normal to its own plane (i.e. it remains parallel to the plane of the upper working surface of free arm 4) and can move between the level of the upper surface of the free arm 4 and a level substantially below the said arm 4, so as to clear the latter and leave it accessible. To this end, the material supporting means or shelf 7 is connected to the base 2by a set of articulated parts.

In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the se of articulated parts comprises three panels, namely two longitudinal panels 8 and a transverse end panel 9. Each panel 8 and 9 is itself formed of two portions, 10 and l1, l2 and 13 respectively, hinged to one another by pins 14 (FIG. 2) and 15 (FIG. 8), respectively. Thus, panels 8 and 9 are foldable as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9. Sections 10 of panels 8 are articulated along the corresponding longitudinal sides of base 2 by hinges 17 i while sections 11 of panels 8 are articulated along the corresponding longitudinal sides of shelf 7 by hinges 18 (FIGS. 2 and 7). Similarly, panel 9 is articulated to the front edge of base 2 by hinges l9 and along the front edge of shelf 7 by hinges 20.

Three flaps 21, 22, 23 are also articulated along the three respective sides of shelf 7 by hinges 24, 25 and 26 respectively. These flaps 21, 22, and 23 serve to protect the machine in the storage position, as shown in FIG. 4. In fact, in this position, the flaps are folded against the upper arm 5 of the frame 1 in a manner to form a case therewith. Fixing means, for example clasps 27, enable the flaps 21, 22, and 23 to be held in the raised position.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, spring means are provided to urge, on the one hand, shelf 7 to tend to lift it up and, on the other hand, hinges l7 and 19 of panels 8 and 9 to tend to fold them up. As shown in FIG. 5,. a

a lever 28 is pivotally mounted at 29 in the lower part of with portions thereof cut away, the side panels in shown in working position with the free arm accessible.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the sewing machine of FIG. 10in packed position.

FIG. 12 is a partial side view of the machine shown in FIG. 11 with one side flap removed to show the guiding mechanism of the shelf in raised position.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a locking device of the guiding mechanism of FIG. 12.

the column 3. This lever 28 is urged by a spring 30 hooked to the frame 1 so that the end 31 of the lever 28 exerts a pressure under the shelf 7. A catch 32 is pivotally mounted at 33 in the lateral wall 34 of column 3 (see FIG. 7). The internal end 35 of this catch is located in the path of part 36 of lever 28 when the latter pivots against the action of the spring 30 during lowering of the shelf 7. Once this is in the lowered position, the catch 32 prevents return of the lever 28 to its initial position shown in FIG. 5. Such a return can only tions 10 and 12 of panels 8 and 9 respectively to induce folding of these panels into the position shown in FIG. 7.

A locking device is provided to enable locking of the panels 8 and 9 in the raised position. As shown in FIG. 6, this locking device comprises :a pivotally mounted axle 39 transversally located inside the column 3. The median part of axle 39 carries a knurled knob 40 forming control means for rotation thereof. Knob 40 protrudes from the column 3 through a rectangular opening 41 provided therein. The ends of axle 39 carry arms 42 able to engage in grooves 43 provided in the end sides of portions 10 of panels 8 when they are in the raised position. Once arms 42 are engaged in these grooves 43, the panels 8 are thus locked in the raised position.

Such a sewing machine is used in the following manner:

Suppose that the sewing machine is in the stored position, as shown in FIG. 4. When the user desires to carry out a sewing operation using the shelf 7 to increase the working surface of the free arm 4, it suffices to fold back the flaps 21, 22, and 23 by lifting up the catches 27. The sewing machine thus assumes the position shown in FIG. 1, flaps 21, 22, and 23 forming ramps facilitating the delivery of pieces to be sewn towards the hole/needle plate (not shown) of the sewing machine.

If, for certain particular sewing operations, the user must be able to use the free arm 4 in a completely cleared and hence accessible position, she simply has to unlock the panels 8 by actuating the knurled knob 40 and exert a downwardly directed pressure on the shelf 7 to cause retraction thereof to a level below that of the free arm 4 (see FIG. 9). During this operation, springs 38 assist folding of the panels 8 and 9 into the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. The catch 32 prevents return of the shelf 7 to the upper position by locking the lever 28 against the action of the spring 30. To bring the shelf 7 back to the level of the upper surface of the free arm 4, it is sufficient to act on the end 37 of catch. 32 to free the lever 28 which raises the shelf. To improve locking of the front panel 9 in the raised position, pins 44 are fixed in the portion 13 of the panel 9, these pins being engageable in corresponding openings 45 in the portion 11 of panels 8, in the raised position of panels 8 and 9. To place the sewing machine in the storage position, the shelf 7 is brought to the raised position and flaps 21, 22, and 23 are folded against the upper arm and head 6 of the sewing machine.

The second embodiment of sewing machine shown in FIGS. to 13 comprises the same principal elements as the 22, embodiment, namely: frame 1, base 2, column 3, lower free arm 4, upper arm 5, and head 6. This second embodiment also has a retractable shelf 7 along the edges of which are hinged flaps 21, 22, and 23 enabling the sewing machine to be placed in a storage position, as shown in FIG. 11, by folding back the flaps 21, 22 and 23 against the upper arm 5 and the head 6. However, in this second embodiment, the placing of the sewing machine into storage position takes place while the shelf is in the lowered position. In fact, in the second embodiment, the panels 8 and 9 have been eliminated and the set of articulated parts connecting the shelf 7 to the base 2 of the frame comprises two pairs of levers 46 articulated to one another in scissor-fashion about pivot points 47. One pair of. scissors 46, 47 is placed on either side of the machine between the base 2 and the shelf 7. The levers 46 are pivotally mounted at one end thereof, one to the base 2 at 48 and the other to the shelf 7 at 49. These levers are pivotally mounted at their opposite ends, one at 50 on a slide 51 capable of axial displacement in a slideway 52 provided in the base 2, and the other at 53 on a slide 54 located in a slideway 55 provided under the shelf 7. It can readily be appreciated from FIG. 12 that the liaison of the shelf 7 to the base 2 by the intermediary of two pairs of scissors 46, 47 ensures a vertical displacement of the shelf 7 which remains parallel to the upper surface of free arm 4.

A locking device is provided to ensure the stability of the shelf 7. This locking device comprises two pins 56 capable of sliding symmetrically in support bearings 57 disposed in the base 2. Ends 58 of these pins engage in bores 59 of the lower slides 51 when the shelf is in the upper position at the level of the upper surface of the free arm 4. These pins 56 are urged by springs 60 towards an operative position in the bores 59. Each pin 56 is pivotally connected at 61 to a control lever 62, the two levers 62 being symmetrically pivoted at 63 on the base 2. A cam 64 is able to act on the ends 65 of the levers 62 to cause movement thereof either to withdraw the pins 56 towards the central part of the base 2, or to move them apart to engage in the bores 59 of slides 51. The cam 64 pivots about a vertical axis 66. This cam 64 is rigidly fixed to a manual control member composed of a knurled wheel 67 protruding from an opening 68 in the column 3.

This locking device can also be used to lock the shelf 7 in the lower position; Indeed, slides 51 have a hollow 69 in which the ends 58 of pins 56 are engageable to lock the slides 51 and hence the scissors 46, 47 in closed position corresponding to the lower position of the shelf 7. It is useful to recall that it is from the lower position of shelf 7 that the sewing machine can be brought to the storage position by lifting up flaps 21, 22, and 23 against the upper arm 5 and the head 6 of the sewing machine.

Use of the second embodiment of this sewing machine thus takes place, from the storage position shown in FIG. 11, by opening flaps 21, 22, and 23 and folding them to the position shown in FIG. 10. The free arm 4 is thus entirely accessible and the user can carry out any particular sewing operation requiring an entirely accessible free arm. When the user wishes to carry out sewing operations on large sheet-like pieces, she can perform these tasks with greater ease by raising the shelf 7 to the level of the upper surface of the free arm 4, so as to increase the working surface. This is achieved by unlocking the locking device 56 to 67, raising the shelf 7 to the upper level and relocking the slides 51 by the locking device 56 to 67. In this upper position of the shelf 7, flaps 21, 22, and 23 form ramps facilitating the delivery of pieces to be sewn towards the hole/needle plate of the sewing machine.

The second embodiment can also be furnished with the device composed of the lever 28 and spring 30 (see FIG. 5) intended to cause elevation of the shelf 7 after unlocking the devices 56 to 67.

. As a variant, a spring device tending to bring the shelf 7 into the raised position can be provided, acting either directly between the base 2 and the shelf 7, or on the scissors 46, 47, or even on the slides 51, 54. In this case, a pressure would have to be provided on the shelf 7 to bring it into the lowered position after unlocking the locking device 56 to 67. The maintenance of the shelf in the lowered position would thus be assured by the locking device 56 to 67 in operative position.

We claim:

l. A sewing machine for use on a supporting surface, said machine comprising a casing having a base, a column, a free lower arm including upper, lower and side faces, an upper arm, a head, and a plurality of flaps, means connecting said flaps to said casing to permit movement of said flaps between a lower position in which the sewing machine can be used and an upper position in which said flaps are raised against said casing to form therewith an enclosure for the sewing machine, material supporting means, and a set of articulated parts connecting the said material supporting means to the base of the casing so as to enable such material supporting means to be moved parallel to itself along a vertical axis between first and second positions, said means in its first position cooperating with said lower arm so as to enlarge the upper face thereof and in its second position sufficiently exposing said lower arm for the sewing of tubular pieces of material.

2. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein said set of articulated parts comprises a panel along each of three sides of said base, each panel comprising a first portion hinged to said material and a second portion hinged to said base, said first and second portions being hinged to one another.

3. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 2, wherein three flaps are hinged along three sides of said material supporting means such that when said panels are folded over so that the portions thereof are in line, said material supporting means is at said operative level and said flaps can occupy two positions, an open position wherein said flaps form ramps leading up to' said material supporting means, and a closed position wherein said flaps cooperate with said upper arm to form a case.

4. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 2, comprising spring means tending to urge said material supporting means towards said operative level and means for locking said panels in their positions corresponding to said operative level and said retracted level of said material supporting means.

5. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 2, comprising a lever pivoted adjacent a lower part of said column and a spring urging an end of said lever against said material supporting means to tend to raise said material supporting means, and means for locking said panels in their position corresponding to said retracted level of said material supporting means, said locking means comprising catch means able to positionally lock said lever when said material supporting means is lowered to said retracted level.

6. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 2, comprising spring means acting on at least one of said portions of said panels tending to urge same to lower said material supporting means.

7. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 2, comprising means for locking together adjacent panels in a position corresponding to said operative level of said material supporting means.

8. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein said set of articulated parts comprises two pairs of levers articulated in scissor-fashion to form two pairs of scissors each with two pairs of arms, one pair of arms of each pair of scissors being articulated by one arm to the underneath of a longitudinal side of sai material su rti means db the other arm to sziid base, the digpos i e pairs c lf arni s of each pair of scissors being articulated by one arm to a slide located in a slideway under said material supporting means, and by the other arm to a slide located in a slideway in said base, and comprising a locking device enabling locking of said scissors either in an open position corresponding to said operative level of said material supporting means or in a closed position corresponding to said retracted level of said material supporting means.

9. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 8, wherein three flaps are hinged along three sides of said material supporting means such that when a said material supporting means is at said retracted level said flaps can occupy two positions, an open position allowing access to said free arm and a closed position. wherein said flaps cooperate with said upper arm to form a case.

10. The improvement in a sewing machine according 

1. A sewing machine for use on a supporting surface, said machine comprising a casing having a base, a column, a free lower arm including upper, lower and side faces, an upper arm, a head, and a plurality of flaps, means connecting said flaps to said casing to permit movement of said flaps between a lower position in which the sewing machine can be used and an upper position in which said flaps are raised against said casing to form therewith an enclosure for the sewing machine, material supporting means, and a set of articulated parts connecting the said material supporting means to the base of the casing so as to enable such material supporting means to be moved parallel to itself along a vertical axis between first and second positions, said means in its first position cooperating with said lower arm so as to enlarge the upper face thereof and in its second position sufficiently exposing said lower arm for the sewing of tubular pieces of material.
 2. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein said set of articulated parts comprises a panel along each of three sides of said base, each panel comprising a first portion hinged to said material and a second portion hinged to said base, said first and second portions being hinged to one another.
 3. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 2, wherein three flaps are hinged along three sides of said material supporting means such that when said panels are foLded over so that the portions thereof are in line, said material supporting means is at said operative level and said flaps can occupy two positions, an open position wherein said flaps form ramps leading up to said material supporting means, and a closed position wherein said flaps cooperate with said upper arm to form a case.
 4. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 2, comprising spring means tending to urge said material supporting means towards said operative level and means for locking said panels in their positions corresponding to said operative level and said retracted level of said material supporting means.
 5. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 2, comprising a lever pivoted adjacent a lower part of said column and a spring urging an end of said lever against said material supporting means to tend to raise said material supporting means, and means for locking said panels in their position corresponding to said retracted level of said material supporting means, said locking means comprising catch means able to positionally lock said lever when said material supporting means is lowered to said retracted level.
 6. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 2, comprising spring means acting on at least one of said portions of said panels tending to urge same to lower said material supporting means.
 7. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 2, comprising means for locking together adjacent panels in a position corresponding to said operative level of said material supporting means.
 8. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein said set of articulated parts comprises two pairs of levers articulated in scissor-fashion to form two pairs of scissors each with two pairs of arms, one pair of arms of each pair of scissors being articulated by one arm to the underneath of a longitudinal side of said material supporting means and by the other arm to said base, the opposite pairs of arms of each pair of scissors being articulated by one arm to a slide located in a slideway under said material supporting means, and by the other arm to a slide located in a slideway in said base, and comprising a locking device enabling locking of said scissors either in an open position corresponding to said operative level of said material supporting means or in a closed position corresponding to said retracted level of said material supporting means.
 9. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 8, wherein three flaps are hinged along three sides of said material supporting means such that when said material supporting means is at said retracted level said flaps can occupy two positions, an open position allowing access to said free arm and a closed position wherein said flaps cooperate with said upper arm to form a case.
 10. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 8, wherein said locking device comprises a pin for locking each of said slides, said pins being articulated to a lever, and cam means for controlling the positions of said levers.
 11. The improvement in a sewing machine according to claim 8, wherein said locking device comprises a pin for locking each of said slides, said pins each being articulated to a lever, said levers being symmetrically articulated to said frame, a cam located between said levers, and control means for said cam protruding from said column. 